Complaint Review: Clarence Mills

 July 28 2015 I commissioned Clarence Mills a famous local Vancouver artist to carve a wolf bracelet for my 16 year old son for Christmas. This was to be his main Christmas gift. I was given the " family price" of $1000 as I have known Clarence for 39 years. Clarence has carved totem poles for the president of France- the expo in Austraila ... You get the picture . Normally when you have something custom made you pay half and then half again upon delivery. Also once a price has been determined and I have a receipt- that price doesn't change. Well Clarence Mills called me in Dec and said he was changing the price and I was to pay a " Silver Tax." So he upped the price from $1000 to $1150. There had been no mention of this in July. From July to Dec 2015 on numerous occasions I reminded Clarence Mills that this was my sons main Christmas gift. He told me he needed one and a half months to carve the bracelet perfectly. This had given him 5 months. Then Dec 14 2015 I email transferred another $450as he asked for more money " to continue his work". ?? My son's bracelet should have been finished. I asked for photos of the bracelet from the start and was never sent any until Dec- of work finished. So by Dec 14 2015 I had given Clarence Mills $950 of the $1000 Originally agreed on. I was to pay him $200 more when I picked up the bracelet Dec 23 2015. When I texted him to say I was coming he said he had not finished the bracelet and couldn't . He asked if I could make it a " New Year gift" for my son. I said NO it was to be his main Christmas gift. Clarence made all sorts of excuses- he car just broke down this week and it has to be towed etc etc. Not my problem I said . I commissioned this piece of jewelry in July. We went back and forth a few times like that then Clarence said he wasn't finishing the braclet and my son would NOT receive it ever. I have saved texts of this conversation. He told me he would refund my $950. I asked for him to do this imediately. Again more excuses...then he decided part Dec31 2015 and part Jan 3 2016. Those dates came and went with no money transferred to me. Then is said the following week... Again no etransfer and more excuses. Then again he made another deadline and said is have my money by Friday Jan 15 2016. .... Yes you guessed it NO money transfer. My advise to anyone who is interested in commissioning Clarence Mills- The Haida Guy- to do any work for them stay clear of him. This is not the way a professional should be conducting business. He has been dishonest and deceitful. Lesa